Cover structure for hollow bodies having improved actuating and carrying means therefor



April 21, 1953 G, 5 2,635,780

UCTURE FOR H 0W BODIES HAVING IMPROVED UATING AND C YING MEANS THEREFOR COVER Filed Nov.

F INVENTOR. 6 60/290/7 fifiaf/m/df v BY ATrOR/VEH Patented Apr. 21, 1953 HAVING IMPROVED ACTUATING AND CARRYING MEANS THEREFOR Gordon D. Schmidt, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Hume Manufacturing Company, North Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,506

Claims. 1

This invention relates to closure structure for hollow bodies, the primary object being to improve upon similar structure forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,921,295, dated August 8, 194.3, and entitled "Incandescent Lamp Guard.

In the aforesaid patent, there is illustrated a lamp guard having a cover structure on one end thereof that includes a plurality of semi-circular loops swingably mounted upon the guard itself. Each loop is arranged in overlapping relationship to a loop on one side thereof and in underlying relationship to the loop on the other side thereof.

The entire cover structure of said patent may be moved to and from a closed condition by merely grasping two opposed loops and forcing the same to swing in radial planes, whereby all of the loops will so swing on the lamp guard itself. It has been found that one of the most harassing problems in using lamp guards of this character is that of providing suitable structure permitting hanging of the guard or otherwise placing the same near its point of use.

Accordingly, it is one of the most important objects of the present invention to provide suspending means for a lamp guard having a closure of the above-mentioned character, the suspending means constituting an extension on two opposed loops, said extensions each constituting loops in themselves and serving additionally as a means for actuating the closure.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slightly modified form of handlin structure capable of, also, actuating the closure and particularly adapted for use with trash burners and the like.

Details of construction form more minor objects of the present invention, and the same will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

a Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an incandescent lamp guard having a closure actuating means and guard suspending means forming the.

subject matter of the present invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure il-.

lustrated in Fig. 1, showing the guard in the closed condition.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the c103 sure in an open condition.

-Fig. .4 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 3, 11.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing another modified form of the present invention particularly adapted for use on trash burners; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the modification illustrated in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, there is illustrated an incandescent lamp guard I0 that includes a skeleton framework l2 for receiving the lamp having a clamp bar I4 on one end thereof and a circular wire ring I6 at its opposite end. The points of attachment of the ring It to the frame members I2 of the body are equispaced and present stops to prevent lateral sliding movement of the elements forming the closure for guard ID.

The closure, per se, is designated by the numeral I8 and includes a plurality of substantially semi-circular elements 20, each having an eye 22 formed onthe free end of both legs thereof. These eyes 22 are looped about the ring It for free, rotative movement thereon, permitting swinging movement of the elements 20 on ring it. As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each loop 20 overlaps a portion of the loop next adjacent one leg thereof and underlies a portion of the loop adjacent the other leg thereof.

A pair of identical actuators 24 and 26 are provided for moving the closure I8 from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to the open condition of Fig. 3 and vice versa. These actuators 24 and 26 are formed from an initially straight length of wire rebent upon itself intermediate the ends thereof and then again bent to form a loop 28 of double thickness.

The free ends of the wire diverge, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and are provided with eyes 3!] that are looped about the ring it in the same manner as the loops 26. One of the. two diverging legs of the actuators 24 and 26 underlies one of the loops 20, and the other leg is disposed in overlying relationship to the proximal loop 20. It is noted that the eyes 30 of the actuators 24 and 25 are disposed substantially midway between the eyes 22 of the proximal loops: 20.

Since the two actuating armsj24and 26 are interleaved with respect to closure 18 in the same manner as the loops 20 themsleves, it is clear that, as the actuators 24 and 26 are spread apart from the position of Figs. 1 and 2 to that of Fig. 3, the closure l8 will move to the open condition. When in such open condition, the loops 20 of closure 18 as well as the actuators 24 and 26 are in substantially the. same place.

When the closure 18 is in theclo sed condition,

W the arms and, 26 project lateral ygoutvrardly from closure I8 on the longitudinal axis of body I2, and the loops 28 thereof extend outwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of body I2. Accordingly, when the lamp guard is placed in use, the same may be hooked in place as, for instance, over automobile framework when the guard is so used by automobile mechanics.

The entire guard II) will hang with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical and can be easily placed in a convenient location where the same will not likely be displaced by the mechanic.

The slightly modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is shown by Fig. 4. Opposed loops 50 and 52 of the closure which is itself otherwise identical With the 010- sure I8 of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, are-each extended at the bights thereof to form a combined closure actuating means and suspension hooks. These two loops 5D and 52 each have a pair of opposed arms 54 that diverge outwardly and merge into a double loop 56 of the same character as the two loops 28 of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Accordingly, in the modification of Fig. 4, the closure is moved to and from an open position, as illustrated, by grasping the loops 56, the latter of which, also, serves as a means for hanging the lamp guard as above explained.

Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrate the use of a closure structure of the character hereinabove set forth upon a trash burner H36 composed of a skeleton framework I92 having a plurality of annular cross braces I34 upon the lowermost of which is disposed a foraminous bottom I06. The uppermost annulus N34 hingedly mounts a closure I88 having a plurality of intertwined, semi-circular loops as formed in the previously-discussed modifications.

Two of these loops H and H2 that are disposed in opposed relationship have the eyes H4 thereof continued into another at least partial convolution that extends beyond the periphery of the uppermost ring I04 into a loop H6. These loops II6 are disposed in the same horizontal plane as illustrated in Fig. v when the closure I98 is closed andare provided with a substantially straight bight that is circumscribed by a handle '8.

These tubular handles IIS may be formed from any suitable material that will not readily burn when the trash burner is placed in use and present convenient hand grips for carrying the trash burner, if so desired, and for causing opening and closing of the closure I138. To open closure I98, the operator simply exerts a downward movement upon the two hand grips II8, swinging the same downwardly and inwardly toward the framework I02. Such movement will cause the two loops H0 and II 2 to swing upwardly and outwardly and to carry therewith the remainder of the loops of closure I98 toward the open'position.

The advantages emanating from the improvements of all of the modifications above described are apparent and will be appreciated even more fully by users thereof not only from the standpoint of convenience but because of the safety features inherent therein.

With respect to the trash burner, the operator need not fear burning of his hands in opening and closing the closure I68; and, in the case of the lamp guards, the hanging means provided therein will eliminate breakage and displacement when the usercome'sinto contact therewith.

Having tliti'sde's'drilfae'd" my invention, what I 4 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In structure provided with an annulus at one end thereof, cover means including a plurality of loops, each having a pair of legs, each leg being provided with an eye coiled about said annulus for swinging movement of the loops thereon, one pair of loops being in diametrically opposed relationship and having the legs thereof extending beyond the bights of the remaining loops, a portion of each of said extended vertical legs being substantially on a line parallel to a line forming an extended axis of said annulus when said cover means is closed, thereby disposing said portions in side-by-side relationship and presenting a handle, each loop having one of its legs overlying the leg of the adjacent loop on one side thereof and its other leg underlying the leg of the adjacent loop on the other side thereof, whereby said cover means is moved to an open position as the extended legs of one of said pair of loops is moved away from the extended legs of the other of said pair of loops to simultaneously swing all of the loops on the annulus.

2. In structure provided with an annulus at one end thereof, cover means including a plurality of loops, each having a pair of legs, each leg being provided with an eye coiled about said annulus for swinging movement of the loops thereon, one pair of loops being in diametrically opposed relationship and having the legs thereof extending beyond the bights of the remaining loops, a portion of each of said extended legs being substantially on a line parallel to a line forming an extended vertical axis of said annulus when said cover means is closed, thereby disposing said portions in side-by-side relationship and presenting a handle, each loop having one of its legs overlying the leg of the adjacent loop on one side thereof and its other leg underlying the leg of the adjacent loop on the other side thereof, whereby said cover means is moved to an open position as the extended legs of one of said pair of loops is moved away from the extended legs of the other of said pair of loops to simultaneously swing all of the loops on the annulus; and means for facilitating the grasping of said handle including a secondary.

loop integral with each of said pair of loops respectively and extending beyond said portions thereof remote from said annulus.

3. A receptacle comprising an open-work receptacle frame section having side walls formed of a plurality of rigid, relatively narrow, spaced upright elements secured to horizontal ribs including a rib at the upper end of'said elements, closure elements each comprising a substantially U-shaped member having leg portions pivotally secured by loops formed at their ends to said upper rib, said closure elements secured to said rib in overlapping position relative to one another whereby movement of one of said elements will actuate the other of said elements for similar movement, a pair of handle elements each comprising a U-shaped member having spaced leg portions pivotally secured to said upper rib by loops formed at the ends of the leg portions thereof, one of said leg portions overlying said closure elements and one of said leg portions underlying said closure elements whereby movement of the handle in any direction will actuate said closure elements for movement in a similar direction.

4. A receptacle comprising, a combination with an open-work receptacle frame section including rigid latticework side Walls, a horizontal rib at the upper edge of the side walls and closure elements pivotally secured on said rib and arranged to interchange for simultaneous movement upon the movement of any of them, of handle means comprising a pair of handle elements, each of approximately U-shape and having spaced leg portions, each pivotally secured by its end to said upper rib with one of said le portions overlying said closure elements and the other of said leg portions underlying said closure elements, whereby movement of a handle in any direction will actuate said closure elements for movement in a similar direction.

5. The receptacle of claim 4 wherein each of said handle elements has its free end portion outwardly offset to form a grip section which will extend in approximately upright direction when its inner end portion is in approximately horizontal receptacle closing position.

GORDON D. SCHMIDT. 

